third year baily reese

It’s come from the occasional “you’re too much” or times when I feel like crawling from my own skin because I’m dying to be the most original. Afraid to blend in and be labeled a lawn chair for a personality, I put it all out there for the world to see. I say, “here’s a tour of the skeletons in my closet before you even get a chance to sneak a peek.” Some people praise me for my ability to be vulnerable and brave when really it’s just a defense of the most intimate sort. It gets to be more complicated when I factor in the enneagram 4 individualist fantasy. To be unique and valued for your existence is the core of it all, as selfish as it may sound.

I commit to oversharing details of my life more than I commit to anything. I’ll spill my guts on a first date without hesitating and a coffee meetup can quickly turn into a confessional. I’ve never been the dainty mysterious type to hold back details and have you guessing. But I think the reasons for that come from a place of defense and reaching for any space in between. I want to find common ground, make friends, dive into controversy, and live unapologetically but sometimes it comes at a cost.

I’ve been labeled too loud, and too much and “too” many things to count, but I believe there’s something to be said about taking up space. I wanted to call out to those who have ever felt ashamed for being vulnerable and let you know that you’re never too much. You might feel like a wide open target, waiting for your back to get stabbed. Or maybe when you tell a story and mess up the punchline it might be the absence of laughter that mocks you the most. When you disclose a secret for the first time and your breath leaves your lungs faster than your truth. You’re taking a chance either way, and no matter the issue, it’s brave. Take up space.

You’re Never Too Much